Kennywood needs a big boost in the future??
Although their attention to maintaining classic rides, and the history of the park is commendable, it makes little to no business sense.
Kennywood spends millions in yearly capitol maintaining rides that are antiques. Think of the repair and maintenance that rides like Kangaroo, Turtle, etc etc etc must require and the cost that goes with them. The park maintains rides with expired warranties, and are not current manufacturer offerings. Thus the park must spend countless $ in repair and upkeep treating their rides like specialty items when parts and fix-ups are required.
Because of the high cost of maintaining classic, old rides, it nearly prohibits them from sinking capitol into new product. Thus they must let revenue build season after season until they can invest.
Kennywood is a regional park, and it generates regional revenue. However, it hardly has the finacial stability to add a coaster every other year as some dream they would.
This year alone Kennywood's bulk capitol expenditure went towards updating/rebuilding a new entrance and office facilities. A necessary step for their organization, however it's hardly a change that appeals to visitors or drives the gate.
To compensate for lean years, Kennywood has resorted at times to the trick of adding an upcharge and billing it as a new attraction. This allows them new product that will (hopefully) pay for itself. Problem is.... most guest just get upset at the idea of having to pay $30 to ride the "new" ride.
I appreciate the past, and like that Kennywood embraces it. But it is never a wise decision in business to let old relics thwart the way you grow. Over time, rides need to be removed and replaced with new modern ones that will appeal to today's sophisticated park goer. Otherwise you maintain the same attendance and dwindling appeal.
Our office recently replaced a 7 year old heavy duty bulk line printer with a $11,000 color high speed laser. Although investment was steep... and we had to change the way some things "looked" for so long, the result is the printer has paid for itself in less than 3 months and our overhead costs are down with profits up. Out with the old, in with the new.
Shaggy
Shaggy
No business sense! Please! They wouldn't be open if it didn't make sense. Seeing that they own 3 parks, manage one, and own catering businesses - I'd say there doing pretty well.
I need to go calm myself down now...
Every single year she gets asked that ridiculous question "When is Kennywood putting in another coaster?" And every single year she responds with the same "Kennywood does not have the capitol budget to install mega attractions year after year."
In terms of Kennywood... I am sure they make good money, I wasn't bringing that into question. I was simply stating that Kennywood is a localized park with a tight capitol expenditure budget... most of which goes to maintaining, rather than re-investing.
Shaggy
Shaggy
You guys don't understand they need a new coaster!!! Like a Stand-Up or All Looping Coaster like Great American Scream Machine or the Viper at Magic Mountain. Maybe even a floorless coaster.
Who is JayChillerIce69?
If I were to wish for something it would be something similar to Storm Runner, but I dont think they "OMG NEED IT TO STAY OPEN."
What would happen if SFMM didn't add a coaster for 5 years? Its almost unimaginable! CP? Kennywood is a big park, and for them to be able to go so long without huge capital expenditures on new rides- thats an impressive achievement! They must be doing something right.
You really catch on quickly after being gone, man :)
Mamoosh said:
Alex, I'll take "Clueless Enthusiasts" for $100 please.You guys don't understand they need a new coaster!!! Like a Stand-Up or All Looping Coaster like Great American Scream Machine or the Viper at Magic Mountain. Maybe even a floorless coaster.
Who is JayChillerIce69?
eightdotthree said:
Garield's Nightmare replaced The Old Mill etc etc. Where do you get that Kennywood doesnt replace old rides with new ones?
I wouldn't say Garfield's Nightmare replace Old Mill. It was just an update to the ride-updates have happened to the ride numerous times in the past. While this update completely changed the look of the entire ride, the boats and the layout remain the same (just a bit more colorful).
Wood Coaster Fan Club - "Sharing a Passion for the Classics"
Shaggy said:
Kennywood is a rare breed. It's a classic case of a business not able to look to the future because it is too mired down in the past.Although their attention to maintaining classic rides, and the history of the park is commendable, it makes little to no business sense.
You mean like adding multi-million dollar expansions while consistently losing customers like Geauga Lake? Name one park in a market the same as Kennywood's that adds spectacular attractions every year, and that turns a profit every year.
Kennywood spends millions in yearly capitol maintaining rides that are antiques. Think of the repair and maintenance that rides like Kangaroo, Turtle, etc etc etc must require and the cost that goes with them. The park maintains rides with expired warranties, and are not current manufacturer offerings. Thus the park must spend countless $ in repair and upkeep treating their rides like specialty items when parts and fix-ups are required.Because of the high cost of maintaining classic, old rides, it nearly prohibits them from sinking capitol into new product. Thus they must let revenue build season after season until they can invest.
Where are all these bills for classic ride upkeep? New rides cost more to maintain than old rides. Do you think Top Thrill Dragster is free maintenance because it's new? Do you think that an S&S tower takes less maintenance and care than the Turtle?
And warranties?!? They're not friggin' Hyundai's, dude. Should we get all new rides every three years? Is that part of that great business sense you speak of?
Kennywood is a regional park, and it generates regional revenue. However, it hardly has the finacial stability to add a coaster every other year as some dream they would.
Let's see, a new coaster every other year goes in to a park that's 106 years old... you're saying we should have 53 coasters? I don't see any non-regional parks doing that... when's the last time Islands of Adventure added a new coaster again?
This year alone Kennywood's bulk capitol expenditure went towards updating/rebuilding a new entrance and office facilities. A necessary step for their organization, however it's hardly a change that appeals to visitors or drives the gate.
Through numerous surveys of those who actually visit the park, one of the main requests by the park's customers was for a better, more efficient front gate that had restroom facilities. That's exactly what they got. The old gate structure couldn't handle the added crowds we plan on getting when we start adding a new coaster every two years.
To compensate for lean years, Kennywood has resorted at times to the trick of adding an upcharge and billing it as a new attraction. This allows them new product that will (hopefully) pay for itself. Problem is.... most guest just get upset at the idea of having to pay $30 to ride the "new" ride.
Kennywood has never added an upcharge as the only new attraction. Kennywood has no ride that costs $30 to ride. They don't even charge that much for a ride-all-day pass... also, I don't remember ever seeing a rider come off of the Skycoaster "upset" because they "had" to pay.
...and how is it a "trick" to advertise a new attraction as a new attraction if you've got to pay? It's still new, and I don't remember any Skycoaster-themed advertising from Kennywood, even though when it was installed it was the very first park-installed one, and also the tallest anywhere. That's Kennywood for ya... always looking to the future.
I appreciate the past, and like that Kennywood embraces it.
Ummm.... no you don't.
But it is never a wise decision in business to let old relics thwart the way you grow. Over time, rides need to be removed and replaced with new modern ones that will appeal to today's sophisticated park goer.
There I agree with you. Today's park goers truly are sophisticated. There's no teenage hoochies and fat people wearing tweety bird shirts that say "I like my attitude problem", rather all park patrons dress in tuxedoes whilst listening to Bach and sipping Hennessy four-star between rides on the Wipeout.
Otherwise you maintain the same attendance and dwindling appeal.
Which is it? The same, or dwindling? There are a lot of parks out there that'd like to have the same appeal and customer loyalty that Kennywood has.
Our office recently replaced a 7 year old heavy duty bulk line printer with a $11,000 color high speed laser. Although investment was steep... and we had to change the way some things "looked" for so long, the result is the printer has paid for itself in less than 3 months and our overhead costs are down with profits up. Out with the old, in with the new.
So you're saying that while it wasn't a glamorous purchase, it was a solid investment that will pay off in customer satisfaction and streamlining efficiency. Sort of sounds like a park that adds a new entrance and ticketing complex. By your logic, if the printer in your Kinko's, er, office went bad, you shoud build a whole new building since the old one isn't under warranty any more, and if a light burns out, you'll have to pay to replace it.
Do you make stuff up and pull random incorrect figures out of your ass to seem smart, or just to hear yourself talk? *** Edited 6/7/2005 2:24:23 AM UTC by kpjb***
Hi
2002/2003
KW Team Member
I like Shaggy, Shaggy means well, And there is some truth to what he said about KW. He certainly didn't mean to come off as calling them stupid. (WHich is what it looked like he was doing but really not).
kpjb was also right in his reply (Although a little harsh.)
Here's the reality. Any park who's found their nitch and keeps people comming back and spending money at it is going to be successful if they are smart in managing their cashflow.
More Reality, If KP didn't have many of the old attractions unique only to it (In the US) How many of the thousands (Im betting KP gets over a million) visitors would keep comming back? year after year.
Honestly I go to KP for the old unique attractions, Sure PR is great but so is Jack Rabbit, Racer, Auto Race, The whip and many other attractions you can't find elswhere.
I happen to be on opposite ends of the SUCCESSFUL Park spectrum as Shaggy. I believe its far more likely many of the big parks like PKI, CP and some others are much closer to closing the doors than a small affordable park that people can afford to visit more than once a year. Trust me, Let another gas shortage or major recession hit and its gonna be the big parks hurting and not the Little Park thats found it's nitch.
The Big parks have backed themselves into a corner where they are forced to build the next big thing to maintain (Not grow) Their attendance and while doing so destroy much of the charm that made them successful in the first place, While a small park operating perfectly in their market and providing a fun affordable time don't have to add anything to make enjoyable or make people want to visit.
When CP's next big thing cost 80 million, There won't be any profit made, It's gonna cost you a hundred to get in the park and your still only gonna get 5-10 major rides per day..
Other smaller parks like Magic Springs, HW and others that have found their nitch aren't necessaraly adding things for marketing purposes (Although short term it helps them) They are forced to, To maintain a comfortable atmosphere. Added trains on Legend and Raven, Another wave pool. A couple of smart purchased rides like a wave swinger and used double shot are not purchased because the park has to have them to be successful. They are purchased to help deal with their success.
Will himself said, You keep comming and I'll keep building. Obviously a very wise buisnessman.
So Shaggy was right in many of his comments, You just don't go buy parts for a Tumble Bug or Auto Race. Heres the catch, If you have your parts cataloged and it's design saved somewhere, It takes only a little programing on a CNC machine to make a new one which in many cases would be cheaper than buying it from a parts vendor and shipping cost.
Chuck, whos sure a full time staff just to keep TTD running, is really a afordable investment.
And at least a few of them have folks on staff with metal-fabricating experience.
-'Playa
NOTE: Severe fecal impaction may render the above words highly debatable.
From today's Cleveland Plain Dealer:
Geauga Lake, Kennywood dip into each other's pockets
http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1118136806257600.xml&coll=2 *** Edited 6/7/2005 1:17:09 PM UTC by HAMMER***
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